Leon Smith names Great Britain Davis Cup team to face Turkey

Leon Smith, the Great Britain captain, has named Jamie Baker and James Ward in
his Davis Cup squad to face Turkey in Eastbourne next month.

Selected: Jamie Baker will take on Turkey in EastbournePhoto: ACTION IMAGES

By Sandy Macaskill

12:59PM BST 29 Jun 2010

Smith, naming his first squad since being appointed to the role in the wake of former captain John Lloyd’s resignation, was unable to select Andy Murray, who has stressed the importance of the other British players picking up experience.

They will certainly get that. Baker and Ward, world Nos 253 and 304 respectively, must win the tie or face relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition.

Murray insisted that Britain ought to be able to defeat Turkey 5-0, but there will be stiff competition from world No 118 Marsel Ilhan, who will be the highest-ranked player in the tie by some margin.

Ward made his debut in the Davis Cup in the defeat by Lithuania in March, winning one rubber. Baker was unable to play on that occasion because he turned an ankle while practicing, but he won his last match against Argentina's Agustin Calleri - although that was back in 2008.

Meanwhile, Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski, who were victorious against Lithuania, have, as expected, been given the doubles spots.

Dan Evans, who has lost crucial rubbers in the last two ties against Lithuania and Poland, has fallen out of favour, with British No 11 Alex Ward named as the reserve.

Smith said: "I am confident that this is a group of players which can win this tie. They've all shown good form during the grass-court season and now the focus is on getting the result against Turkey."